That's more than categories like electronics, shoes and school supplies.

An option for some financial relief is to take your old belongings to stores that purchase clothing and sell it at a discounted price.

John Archie, co-owner of a new Vestal consignment store called Once Upon a Child, said he's seen a lot of used clothing come through the store's doors for the start of the new school year.

"It's back to school right now, so parents, as they're buying new clothes for their kids, they have no place to get rid of the old stuff," said Archie. "So I think that's one of the reasons why we have so much here in such a short time, it's the timing of the year."

The National Retail Federation reported families are planning on spending about $660 total this year to send their kids back to school. That's $20 more than they planned for last year.